Pro Tips for Improving Your Boat Stereo System

If you live in the Gainesville area and want to improve the performance of your boat stereo system, drop by Sound Depot and Performance. From upgrading source units, amplifiers and speakers to ensuring that your sound system is installed and wired properly, dealing with a retailer who has extensive experience in marine entertainment upgrades is crucial. Let’s look at six tips to make your marine audio system sound great and last for decades.

1. Use Proper Marine Audio Equipment

The marine environment can be challenging to your audio equipment. Exposure to water can destroy unprotected electronics like source units and remote controls. Humidity can infiltrate your amplifiers and cause corrosion and damage. Long-term UV exposure can make speaker and subwoofer components dry out, crack and fail.

Yes, real marine audio equipment costs a little more than car and home audio solutions, but it will last a lot longer. You don’t want to waste time or incur the cost of replacing equipment on your boat once or twice a season. Let us show you why we use the products we do.

2. Ensure That the System is Designed Properly

Installing or upgrading a marine audio system requires an understanding of how you use your boat. The components and mounting locations we use on a fishing boat will be different from those of a sailboat or a wakeboard or ski boat. From the size of the speakers we use to the choice of amplifiers, source units and remote controls, each component is tailored specifically to the needs of each client.

3. Proper Installation is Crucial

Knowing how quickly salt water can wreak havoc on unprotected wiring and electrical connections, we have sourced power and speaker wiring and interconnects that can withstand prolonged exposure. We use plastics instead of wooden panels to mount equipment to prevent moisture absorption that can lead to mold and mildew. The result is a sound system that will look and sound great for years.

4. Large Speakers Improve Efficiency

Just as a large-displacement engine will help get your boat moving quickly, large diameter speakers give you more sound with less power. We offer speakers and wakeboard tower systems in sizes up to 8.8 inches and subwoofers in diameters up to 12 inches to increase the efficiency of your audio system while reducing the draw on your boat’s electrical system. Increased efficiency means more play-time and less draw on your batteries when you are rafted with friends.

5. Get the Music Sources You Want

When marine audio products first came to market, the only choices were radio and cassette tapes. Quickly after, CDs became popular, and then the Apple iPod changed the way we carried our music. Support for MP3 files and smartphone connectivity has become a standard. The latest updates are Bluetooth audio streaming, SiriusXM satellite radio and Internet streaming services like Pandora and Spotify. If your source unit doesn’t have the connectivity you want, see us and we’ll help you find a solution that does.

6. Subwoofers Make Everything Sound Better

Most people associate having a subwoofer in their audio system with booming bass that overpowers the rest of the sound. When installed and configured properly, a subwoofer will extend the low-frequency performance of your sound system to make your music more life-like. More importantly, having a subwoofer means that the smaller speakers on your boat can focus on reproducing midrange and high-frequency audio with improved clarity and detail. Adding a subwoofer makes every aspect of your sound system better.

Let Us Make Your Boat Stereo System Sound Amazing

Whether you need to replace a set of worn-out speakers, add modern music sources or build a boat stereo system from scratch, Sound Depot and Performance in Gainesville can help you get it done right the first time. Drop by our store, give us a call or send us an e-mail for more information.